The new Macbeth movie is being produced by Iain Canning and Emile Sherman, the duo behind Shame, which also starred Fassbender, and multiple Oscar winner The King's Speech. Aussie director Justin Kurzel (Snowtown) is due to start shooting next January in the UK.

This adaptation will be set in the 11th century using Shakespeare's original language and will apparently offer a "visceral" take on the bard's classic story about an overly ambitious Scottish nobleman.

Macbeth was first performed in 1611 and has been adapted for film and TV numerous times over the years. Coincidentally, Fassbender's X-Men co-star James McAvoy starred in an acclaimed West End revival of the play earlier this year.